If you haven't received a letter yet, it is because I haven't sent them yet...soon, soon! I thought I'd at least post it because I don't know when I will get to actually mailing them, I will, I just don't know when. So, here is a view if I don't have your address and a preview if I do. Happy New Year EVERYONE!
(below is the letter, above is the card)
2009 was a faith building year. It started off normal, besides being completely exhausted by our 5 month old twins, then things started to unravel. On February 6, 2009 Payton, (our 6 year old, 5 at the time) went in for an MRI for unexplained blindness and shaking in his left. We were notified immediately after the MRI that Payton had a tumor on his optic nerves. A craniotomy (an incision from his ear to the top of his head and a piece of skull removed so they can access under the brain, then reattached with screws) was set up for that following Monday. The surgery went well and the biopsy confirmed his diagnosis, Pilocytic Astrocytoma
The first couple treatments were scary for him, but we arranged for him to be part of a ChemoPal program with the Children’s Cancer Association. A volunteer would come in to play with Payton while he is having chemotherapy. Payton’s pal is Mike and he is a wonderful man that has helped our family more then he’ll ever know. His willingness to show up for 2 hours every other week to play LEGO’s or games on the dirty hospital floor with Payton has lifted a burden that was becoming overwhelming. ENDLESS THANK YOU’S to his great pal/chemo hero Mike!
He is doing amazingly well. He was able to keep his hair and keep a fairly normal lifestyle with very few complications. He has recently been put on a medication to help relieve some of the body pain and it seems to be working really well. He is starting to play, wrestle, run, and act 6 again. He is an amazing little boy that has done incredibly well. He will be completing his chemo treatments February 2010 and will continue to have MRI’s every 3 months to keep close watch on his tumor and will do so throughout his life.
As for the rest of us, we are all doing really well. We have been able to do some pretty wonderful things this year due to the kindness of strangers, family, and friends. We just got back from Disney World for Payton’s Make-A-Wish trip. It was phenomenal. Unfortunately, Cohen and Tessa missed out but we couldn’t imagine taking them either. We were also able to go to a wonderful place on the coast called the Caring Cabin through the Children’s Cancer Association this summer. We decided to make it a Henrie family reunion and had family from 4 states and a total of 28 people stayed in this beautiful, huge home.
Tate (3) started preschool this year and had his 1st Christmas program in which he and his friend had a friendly slap-match throughout. I had him apologized to his teacher the next day. Luckily, she thought it was funny. He is our snuggler. He loves to snuggle with everyone but me. He is also our most accident prone one too. He already has 1 blackish tooth and possibly another as of Friday. He is a busy, busy guy that doesn’t think before he tries. I don’t think that will change anytime soon, so I am predicting he will be our first broken bone kid…HOPE NOT, but think it is inevitable.
Cohen (16 months) is a sweet boy. He pretty much goes about his own business and does his own thing. He loves books, pushing buttons he isn’t supposed to, and takes every opportunity he gets to bolt out the front door.
Tessa (16 months), aka Messy Tessy. Is just that, a mess…always. She is definitely girly but can hold her own. She loves to play with hair, jewelry, cell phones, and be held by anyone. She is also half monkey and can climb onto ANYTHING.
We are so blessed to be in the company of such wonderful friends and family. This year would have been near impossible without them and their willingness to help anytime or anywhere. Thank you all for everything, small or large, that you have done for our family. We hope and pray that you all have an amazing 2010.
Love,
Jared, Chelsea, Payton, Tate, Cohen, and Tessa Northam
Matthew 19:26 “…with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”
